Below is a transcript of that letter.
Via Electronic Delivery
P. O. Box 680
Cape Vincent, N Y 13618
Re: Proposed Amendment – 2012 of Town Of Cape Vincent Zoning Law
On June 5, 2012 the town of Cape Vincent (“ Town") issued Proposed Amendment – 2012 to the
Town of Cape Vincent Zoning Law (" Proposed Zoning Law"). The Proposed Zoning Law would
effectively prohibit wind generation from being sited within the Town. The town is already
evaluated potential impacts from the Cape Vincent and St. Lawrence Wind Farm projects and
made favorable findings. The requirements of the Proposed Zoning Law, however, are
inconsistent with these findings. The requirements, setback provisions, exclusion areas, and noise
standards contained within the Proposed Zoning Law are highly restrictive and should be
substantiated by realistic and credible studies, consistent with other operational wind projects, and
in line with industry standards.
As you know, the developers of the Cape Vincent Wind Farm and St. Lawrence Wind Farm
Projects (combined" the project") have been engaged with the Town and members of its
community for many years. By working closely with the community, BP has been able to make
several changes to and positively shape the Project into one that will provide significant benefits
to the Town and the community and do so in an environmentally responsible manner. Wind
development in the Town will create jobs, increase the demand for local goods and services, and
increase tax revenues to the Town, County, and school district. Land owners will be able to
secure an additional revenue stream while continuing to use their property for agricultural and
recreational uses, a positive benefit during challenging economic times. The Project also will
provide renewable power that is good for the environment.
For parties interested in submitting applications to site wind energy projects in the Town of Cape
Vincent, the provisions contained within the Proposed Zoning Law are unreasonably burdensome
that's in view of existing wind generation technology and/or in view of the needs of/costs to
ratepayers. We respectfully request the town to reconsider the Proposed Zoning Law, taking into
account the above mentioned comments.
5 comments:
"As you know, the developers of the Cape Vincent Wind Farm and St. Lawrence Wind Farm Projects (combined" the project") have been engaged with the Town and members of its community for many years."
Engaged sounds kind of innocuous and neutral, as if we have had a very productive, useful and rewarding relationship - BP and the town - since they first slipped into town.
Engaged is not the word I would use to describe our past or current relationship. How about troubled, deceitful or corrupted?
BP further suggests some very positive, favorable progress has been made in the past and that this progress should not be swept under the rug, if I might paraphrase Chandler's letter. Any progress BP believes made in the past was the result of payments the company made, and continues to make, to then local officials serving on Town and Planning Boards.
Take away the corrupting influence of BP's cash on local officials and there would have been NO progress in the past - period!
I hope this message is made loud and clear to any Art 10 siting board that might show its face in our town. BP should be in jail for corrupting local officials and not allowed to sit in front of a siting board touting their past progress and how they successfully engaged our community.
And I say that British Petroleum's project would crap up our town and be unreasonably burdensome to all of the citizens who will lose millions of dollars in home value.
And would threaten the health, safety, welfare and lifestyle of all of the citizens including the unsuspecting land owners and good neighbors who now have no rights to make future complaints about turbine or participate in any wind turbine impact resolution or settlement.
I was once told by a prominent lease-holder and public official, "You can't tell me what I can do with my land."
However, he then signed wind leases hat allow British Petroleum to tell him exactly what he can and can't do with his land for FORTY YEARS!
Holy Crap!
Good morning Pandora,
"Any progress BP believes they made in the past was the result of payments the company made, and continues to make, to then local lease holding officials serving on Town and Planning Boards." Also remember that the New York State Commissioner of Agriculture, Darrell Aubertine still has wind leases and can peddle nfluence in high places.
How embarrassing Aubertines' wind contracts must be for Governor "Andy Ethics". Any New York State siting board that comes to town will be made fully aware of the wind corruption in Cape Vincent.
If Chandler and Bp makes overtures that attempt to overrule our local choice on their project, Cape Vincent will become a constitutional battle ground.
Is it worth it for Bp and New York State to launch that kind of attack on Cape Vincent's people? Do they have enough local Hessians fight against rule of our own home?
Cape Vincent planning Board chairman (BP wind leaseholder) Richard Edsall thought protective zoning laws were unreasonably burdensome for BP too.
Edsall wrote a letter June 14, 2006, to the Town Board informing them that the PB passed a resolution by a 5-0 favor vote, that the current zoning law was sufficient to properly site any private or commercial wind turbines in the Town of Cape Vincent.
"No change to the current zoning laws are necessary at this time."
"We propose that the Town Board abandon its efforts to amend the current zoning law."
Why didn't Chandler more accurately state, "We paid a lot of money to Town of Cape Vincent officials to do our dirty work and we do not appreciate flushing our money (and them) down the toilet! What's the problem with a little legitimate graft?
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